Saturday, May 31, 2008

Where's Andrew????

I was in the kitchen working on lunch when I hear this muffled, "Momma! Come find me!"

So I headed out to the living room and looked around. Andrew was playing a bit of hide-and-go-seek with me...

Friday, May 30, 2008

Five for Friday!

Five reasons I am mucho blessed today:

1. Work was pure chaos yesterday. I am home with my kiddos today.

2. My auntie and I talked last night and she is GIVING us her car. A SECOND CAR! WOOT!

3. In the midst of the chaos at work yesterday, I still loved my job. A pure sign that I REALLY do love it and will work there a long time.

4. Auntie Stace. She is a blessing to our ENTIRE fam!

5. The sun is supposed to shine today! A true blessing indeed!

Thursday 13 a day late because work was insane and I couldn't get my 13 in yesterday...

13 reasons my job was insane yesterday:

1. The computers crashed for a few hours.

2. Both doctors were in and both doctors had FULL (completely booked, no openings) schedules.

3. For whatever reason, we had some time-slots double booked that doctors were not aware of (sometimes they'll authorize it knowing the situation, but not always. If they don't authorize the double booking, we're not supposed to do it).

4. Some patients were showing up late while others were showing up early. I sent three patients out to get a cup of coffee explaining two things to them: 1. The doctor was a hair late today ("hair" means approximately 20 minutes). 2. They were a "hair" early. If you do that math, you have about 40-45 minutes to wait. Go get a cup of coffee next door and wait it out.

5. The phones! The phones were INSANE! CONSTANT all day long. Other doctors calling. Patients calling. Family of patients calling trying to track down patients because of family emergencies. *sigh*

6. We had staff meeting. For almost two hours.

7. We are remodeling the office in June. In order to do that, we have to CLOSE the office for about 5-6 days. Patients are not happy about that. But they might be once we're open again and happier about the space we work in!

8. We are hiring a third chiropractor (because things aren't crazy enough!) and the potential newbie was observing (following the two currents docs around with their patients). I asked him, "So, have we scared you off yet?" He was adorable and sweet and said, "Not at all! I think in all this chaos you guys are doing great!" Nice guy. I think we should keep him.

9. Here's an idea of my craziness: I got a mocha and had to reheat it three times to get it down. That's just wrong. A mocha should not sit that long. Ugh.

10. To add to my WORK craziness, the kiddos had a weird day because Mark had a weird day (working late) so they went from daycare to home with Auntie Stace but didn't see us at all (SAD!!) and just adds to my mind going, going, going.

11. Because the computers were down, I couldn't pull & prep the next day's files. I couldn't enter services & payments which means I couldn't close out the day on the computer. After we got the computers back on track, It was time for staff meeting. Then I had to return calls and just maintain the day. Started pulling next days files at 4-ish. Started entering services & payments around 5:30 or 6.

12. For a while, my computer was the only one working. That means I had Chiropractic Assistants and billing staff using it whenever I wasn't on it. And I still had to answer the phone and stall until I could get back on it.

13. My last patient left around 8 PM. I finally closed out and got home after 8:30 PM. I ate dinner, kissed my sleeping babies and went to bed.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Monday, May 26, 2008

"Alllll Aboard!!!"

I was gone for Andrew's birthday so we sort of postponed it until today. Our original plan was to get up this morning, get breakfast and head to the store to pick out a new bike for him. We looked around but didn't see anything we liked so we got him a new train for his current collection and told him we would shop for bikes later.

After a BBQ at a friend's house, we made a trip to Toys R Us to check out their bike selection. After putting Andrew on several different ones, we realized it was OUR plan to get a bike, but not really HIS birthday wish. He just wasn't terribly interested--very capable but also very bored with it. So we asked him what he wanted.

"TRAINS!!"

We wandered through the store and, eventually, found our way to the train section. He immediately started playing with the display train table and was happy to just stay there. We debated on what to get him--more wooden tracks? More trains for his wooden set? More of the little motorized trains that don't require a track? Hmmmm...

We saw the Thomas the Train Table and choked at the price tag. We just couldn't justify $200 for a 3 year old's birthday present. So, we opted for the Imaginarium Train Table for a much cheaper $80.

THAT was jusitifiable when we calculated in the two gift cards he had received from family/friends and what we would have been spending on a bike & helmet for him.

"Andrew, would you like a train table in your bedroom?"
"Yes." He was very serious with his answer.

"Do you want to take a train table home?"
"Yes!" He reached for the box next to the display and heaved and grunted to pick it up.

"Daddy, help please! I want to take it home!"

So...Mark picked it up and headed to the check out. We headed home, the boys got it upstairs, started putting it together and, after bath time, it was train heaven!






Where was Tori during our table construction & play time?

She was happy to watch as long as she had refreshments! She headed to bed before the table was completed but I'm sure she'll take a turn sometime tomorrow!

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Saying goodbye to Nana...

A tough moment for anyone...




Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Thursday Thirteen a day early because I'll be traveling all day tomorrow:


Thirteen fun facts about Andrew:

1. He is DEATHLY afraid of blowing his nose. I have no idea why.

2. His current favorite movie is "Aristocats". Before that, it was "101 Dalmations".

3. He always has to assign objects to people: We live in "Daddy's House" but we drive "Momma's Car." It's "Daddy's remote" but when we pull a DVD out of the DVD player, it's "Momma's Show."

4. His favorite thing in all the world is "Football"--his security blanket.

5. He knows when we are pulling into the Starbucks parking lot, we are getting coffee and when we pull into the 7-11 (or "Little Store") parking lot, we are getting Cokes.

6. He was walking before he was 8 months old.

7. His favorite person--above & beyond Mom & Dad--is his Auntie Stace.

8. He won't drink water unless its ice water. "I need ice in it, please!" He gets that from his mom.

9. He is incredibly ticklish.

10. He won't go to bed unless his room is COMPLETELY clean and in order. He gets that from his dad.

11. Anytime he gets his milk out of the fridge, he brings Tori her milk. He figures if he's thirsty, she must be, too! And he's usually right!

12. He loves to invite Tori into his room to play with him. "Sister! Come into my room with me!"

13. He turns THREE on Friday. And I still can't believe that!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Texas or bust...again!

Nana went home to be with Jesus this morning at about 4:30 AM Texas time (so...2:30 Oregon time). She fell asleep and didn't wake up.

We are all hanging in there, but its still a tough go. Its just hard when you lose someone close to your heart.

I leave Thursday morning and return Sunday afternoon. I'll be traveling alone this time as Madre is already in Texas and Mark will be staying home with the kids.

Pray for these things:

1. Family stuff. My mom's family is weird. The family dynamics will be mucho interesting. I haven't seen my mom's brother in...doing some math...hang on...17 years? Yeah. 17 years. He's my uncle. Sort of. So, yeah--pray for that.

2. Safety for all traveling--my big brother and his wife and my nephew and my cousin are doing a road trip and driving straight through from LA to Brownfield. I'm flying in from Oregon and I know there are many others traveling to the services.

3. Patience for Mark. That's a lot of days alone with our crazy kiddos.

4. Blessings on everyone who made this journey a special as its been. You know who you are.

5. And praises! Nana is happy, healthy and praising her Lord!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Enjoying the sunshine!

I apologize, in advance, for the number pictures you will see taken at the park. During the summer, we will, undoubtedly, be spending as much time there as possible.

Here are pictures from today's excursion! We spent the day with friends from church. Pictured with Andrew & Tori are Casey & Allison. We had such a good time! Can't wait for our next outing! There is talk of making a trip to a wading pool after May 31st when it opens!




Saturday, May 17, 2008

Sunshine!

You can't pass up a beautiful Saturday morning! Went walking around Portland and ended with a trip to the fountain and lunch at Rock Bottom Brewery. Yum!


Friday, May 16, 2008

*stunned* but in a good way!

This morning I was thinking about how sad I was about my mom flying all the way to Texas by herself and how much she hates that. I prayed for safe travels and for someone really wonderful to sit with on the plane to get her through it. I told God, "What would be WAY cool is if, somehow, she ended up on the same flight as her sister..."

Dorothy, Mom's older sister, was flying into Lubbock tonight at 5:05. Mom was landing at about 5:00.

I just got a text message from my mom: "Can you believe my sister is on the plane from New Mexico to Lubbock???"

God is *SO* good.

Five for Friday

Totally borrowed this from another blog (thanks M.O.M.!!) but it seemed like a good idea!

Five thoughts running through my brain this beautiful Friday morning:

1. Thinking about my mom flying to Texas to say goodbye to her mom for the last time. Madre is flying alone which makes me sad. But her sister is going to meet her at the airport in Lubbock which will help.

2. I love (*LOVE*) my part time job. Working two days a week is awesome and has been so good for our entire family. I'm getting adult conversation, the kids are getting socialization and Mark is getting more one-on-one time with the kiddos. So great!

3. There is some kind of funky smell in my laundry room and its totally creeping me out. I will spend the kids' nap time investigating. Yes, I am very concerned about what I'm going to find in there.

4. The weather is GORGEOUS Today--we are SO making a trip to the park today!

5. The beautiful weather is supposed to continue through the weekend and we are headed out and about this weekend! I can't wait!

Anyone else want to share their Five for Friday?

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

A little comparison for ya:

Tori at one year:


Andrew at one year:

In case anyone wondered...

Teething is the devil. Just ask my Tori-Girl:

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Birthday Time!

We had a little mini party this weekend for the Tori girl...


"Would you like fries with that...?"

The other night we had an incredibly hectic evening and pretty much little or no time for dinner so we opted for take out. We were in the drive through line discussing what to order when we got up to the speaker. I start telling them what we want when a little voice from the backseat starts adding to our order...

We hear Andrew call out, "And a pizza! And some cookies! And milk! And...ummm...that should be all. Thank you!"

Pretty soon, I'll start letting him order his own food! HA!

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Thursday Thirteen

Thanks to Blue Castle Photography for great family pictures, including this one of Tori!

"Borrowing" from Mikaila's blog: 13 fun facts about Tori!

1. Her favorite thing in all the world is her brother's "Football" blanket. Yes, this creates a few confrontations.

2. She loves food almost as much as she loves "Football".

3. Her favorite snack is graham cracker which she calls "Gam cackah!"

4. She walks all over the house "on the phone" jabbering away.

5. Sometimes, when the phone rings, she'll put her hand up to her ear and say, "Hi! Uh-oh! Buh-bye!"

6. She is huge.

7. She ADORES her brother. And I love that.

8. Her favorite game is to chase her brother up and down the hall. If they "catch" eachother, they both fall to the floor in a fit of giggles.

9. She loves to dance.

10. She is very opinionated. Much more so than Andrew was at this age.

11. She won't let us feed her--she has to do it herself. Its been that way since she was 6 months old.

12. She is terrified of the vaccuum

13. Today is her birthday.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

"We built a toy tower!"

What happens when you leave a one year old and near three year old alone for more than three seconds?

"Momma! Come see our truck tower! With other toys! ITS A TOY TOWER!"




At least they were working together, right?

Monday, May 5, 2008

If you can believe it...

My baby girl turns 1 this week!














Stay tuned for her one year photos!

Sunday, May 4, 2008

SO fun!

I had a great time "being a bride" Saturday night for some photography friends! This is just a small sample of their work--check out their website at www.bluecastlephoto.com